Η κριτική μου στα Ελληνικά ακολουθεί πιο κάτω...I am Greek and my English is not very good, but decent enough to go by in an English speaking country and read books in this language every now and then.The first time I ever "met" Maeve Binchy was at the early 2000s when due to various circumstances I spend a couple of winters living and working in Ireland. I just saw some of her books on a book store at the time and for some reason I thought they will be interesting to read, especially her first books that were set in Ireland, a country I was very fond of but was just starting to really comprehend. So I picked a couple of books and I liked the fact that they were easy for me to read and were presenting some warm, nice, down to earth everyday people as the one's I was mostly seen around me. The plots were interesting enough, not high literature or anything but not the girly pointless novels I detest -and unfortunately seem to often been bestsellers and explosed on best selves on the book stores...-My collection of Maeve Binchy's books grew larger and larger and I think I own about 10-12 of her novels. When I saw "Nights of Rain and Stars"I thought I will fall in love with it. Her decent fairy-tale like plots, her warm characters transfered in a Greek island setting? That would be interesting. Well, this is not quite the case.... I noticed that the themes of Binchy's novels got somehow repetitive book after book but at first this didn't annoyed me much. Moving from '50s and '60s Ireland to 2000s Ireland was quite interesting at first and I did not mind the fact that many characters from one book make appearence to the other. Moving from countryside to Dublin was a nice change at first too, but while I appreciate people are always people and there are family and friendly bonds everywhere, the so close-knit community and the ease on which people tie and bond that Binchy pictures even on large cities started to get somehow irritating. The plots got more and more unrealistic. On Night of Rain and Stars, the setting is a small town on a Greek island where everyone seems to know everyone and this is more easy to believe, but still a local policeman can know all the policemen in Athens or specifically the policemen in charge of the jail where one of the characters is held and actually one of the jail policemen was at army service at the same place and at the same time when one of the Aghia Anna character's son was serving too. And somehow it is easy to have or find the mobile phone numbers of everyone, so the guy from Aghia Anna and the guy in Athens talk and the Athens policeman is about to get married and suddenly after years he decided to remember the Aghia Anna guy's son and tell the father he will like to invite this son to his wedding although they were not in touch for 10 years. In general my bigger problem is that Binchy hurries to tie together the characters on unrealistic ways and tends to resolve the issues that trouble her characters with equally unrealistic ways. Don't get me wrong, I have spend many summers in Greek summer resorts to know that the generic ideas behind the book are correct. I have seen people who did not know each other one hour ago get together and start to talk even about very personal matters. I have seen locals bonding with visitors and visitors with visitors in the course of some weeks. I have seen warmth and hospitality and indepth discussion upon a bottle of ouzo. I have seen a summer abroad changing people's characters and helping them to make crucial decisions and life changes. But... The scene at the start of the book is not very well-written and the dialogues sound unnatural. Actually even if you miss the language differences that persons from a multi-cultural background should have, in most of the book the dialogues seem like phrases that could not come from a real person's mouth. Furthermore, too many coincidences and incidents hard to believe and not realistic at all. Each one seems to bump to the other on the correct moment (this is not unheard of at a small place, but check my comments bellow about the portrait of the Aghia Anna...). A devastated young widow changes her mood a couple of days after her husband's funeral by taking driving lessons from a foreigner she has hardly met and who does not speak more than 50 words of Greek-and she manages to start and drive a van after a 5 minutes tuition. A tavern up on the hill does not receive many visitors because it is a 3 hour steep hike from town, still there is a car road where owner's tout-tout motorbike and a police car can easily come and go. Tavern is empty in most of the book where the author has the owner intracting with main characters or doing other things, but at the final scene suddenly it is a very busy night. Among tons of visitors, certain locals seem to take under their wing only the four characters of the story in the course of one day and never seem to interact or bond with other visitors. Our four heros never seem to socialise with or even bump into anyone else than locals but of course one of the foreigners who look for one of out characters -who hides away from him- will bump into her in no time. A woman who came on the island 30 years ago and has gone through a lot and has built a strong character, just interacting with the four for a few days suddenly starts to have second thoughts about her life and her values. At some point towards the end of the book, it is mentioned that the characters are only on the island a dozen days or so. Some of the bonds and decisions could develop at a course of several weeks, but not at a course of 12-15 days, especially the relationship formed between two of the main characters. And what about her getting a job at his homeland in a course of a couple of days... And the scene at the very end? Not much development where that came from? Too many "Binchy" moments and happy coincidences. My other pet-peeve that is important in the plot, is that Maeve Binchy builds a really weird and inconsistent setting. In the book it is mentioned that this is the 21rst century, right? While some elements of the Greek islands remain untouched since the '50s, it is way hard to believe that there is an island which has frequent ferry service to Athens every couple of hours, receives tons of package visitors, there seems to be many resort hotels and taverns and tourist shops around and at the same time there are local children who have never been on a car, people are so poor that they move out of their own bedroom in order to rent their room to visitors and even one of them living in the hen house to do so, visitors who would be fine to knock doors of houses to get accommodation where there should be tons of decent rooms to let for the budget traveler and people who tend to prefer to send letters in order to communicate...Actually there is hint of a internet cafe, mobile phones and the like, but our heros prefer to receive faxes on a hotel down the road or are getting e-mails but decide to reply with a fax or letter or whatever. There are hints that the place is so isolated that mobile phones would not work at this place, but mobile phones are used fine on some scenes while the place seems to be some isolated back-hole one moment and a busy touristy place with good ferry links, boat trips, motorbike and motorboat hire places and internet cafes next monent. Completely weird and very hard to convince.So would I suggest this book? There are many flaws but Maeve Binchy never disappoints those who seek for some easy, heart-warming read. I have got out of the stage where I could read one Binchy's book after the other, but I still find her books comfortable reading. Me reading this for 3rd or 4rth time in about 10 years and finishing it in one afternoon means something!Μια φορά κι έναν καιρό, πριν απο καμια δεκαριά χρόνια, βρέθηκα να ζω λίγους χειμώνες στην Ιρλανδία, μια χώρα που πολύ την αγαπάμε στην Ελλάδα και λίγο την γνωρίζουμε στ' αλήθεια. Εντελώς τυχαία έπεσα πάνω στα μυθιστορήματα της Maeve Binchy, μιας συγγραφέα εντελώς άγνωστη στην Ελλάδα, όμως πολύ αγαπητή στην Ιρλανδία. Δημοσιογράφος των Irish Times, συγγραφέας μυθιστορημάτων και παιδικών βιβλίων -κάποια απο αυτά γίνανε και ταινίες-, παντρεμένη με συγγραφέα, μια πολυσχιδής προσωπικότητα που δυστυχώς μας άφησε πριν 3-4 χρόνια, μόλις στα 70 της... Τότε βέβαια δεν ήξερα τίποτα απο όλα αυτά, απλά είδα στα ράφια ενός βιβλιοπωλείου κάποια βιβλία της, μου τράβηξαν την προσοχή και αγόρασα μερικά. Και άρχισα να διαβάζω...Τα πρώτα της μυθιστορήματα διαδραματίζονται στην επαρχία της Ιρλανδίας στις δεκαετίες του '50 και του '60. Εκεί σε μεγάλο βαθμό κατάλαβα πόσα κοινά έχουμε σαν λαοί, άνθρωποι αγνοί τότε, θρήσκοι, φτωχοί, ζούσαν μια σχετικά απλή ζωή με τα καλά της και τα κακά της, ανθρωπιά κι ενδιαφέρον για τον δίπλα, αλλα και κουτσομπολιό, μνησικακία, στενόμυαλοι και επιθετικοί σε όποιον έβγαινε απο τα καθιερωμένα της εποχής.Οι αυστηροί γονείς, ο γόης της γειτονιάς, ο νεαρός που τον πνίγει το χωριό και θέλει να μεταναστεύσει στην μεγάλη πόλη, η θεία απο την Αμερική, η κόρη που άλλον της προξενεύουν κι άλλον θέλει, η γεροντοκόρη που δεν της ξεφεύγει τίποτα, η απομονωμένη γριά που όλοι θεωρούν μάγισσα, ο ήρεμος παπάς που κοπανάει κανένα ποτηράκι παραπάνω που και που, η γυναίκα που δεν μπορεί να ξεφύγει απο τον αλκοολικό άντρα της, ο άντρας που δεν θέλει η γυναίκα του να δουλεύει, το μικρό εστιατόριο, το τοπικό φαρμακείο, η γιορτή και το γλέντι του Αγίου.... Σας θυμίζει κάτι; Αργότερα η Binchy μετέφερε τους ήρωες της στο Δουβλίνο του σήμερα και κράτησε πολλά απο τα στοιχεία των προηγούμενων βιβλίων, μικρές ανθρώπινες ιστορίες, καθημερινες, όχι μεγάλα μυστήρια ή μεγάλα δράματα, φιλικοί και οικογενιακοί δεσμοί, σχέσεις, απογοητεύσεις και όνειρα και ο ζεστός, ανθρώπινος πυρηνας τον ηρώων...Στομ κόσμο της Maeve Binchy οι χαρακτήρες δεν συμπεριφέρονται πάντα όπως θα περίμενε κανείς και συνήθως το τέλος δεν είναι ακριβώς αυτό που λέμε Happy End ωστόσο συμβαίνουν χαρούμενες συμπτώσεις και όλα κατα κάποιο τρόπο τακτοποιούνται ικανοποιητικά. Αυτό δουλεύει πολύ καλά στα πρώτα της βιβλία, στα τελευταία της μάλλον το παρατραβάει λίγο.Το "Νύχτες βροχής και Αστεριών" δεν είναι τόσο πολυπρόσωπο όσο τα άλλα της βιβλία και είναι το πρώτο, αν όχι το μόνο, που διαδραματίζεται ολοκληρωτικά εκτός Ιρλανδίας! Δυστυχώς δεν μπορώ να πω οτι είναι και το πιο πετυχημένο της μυθιστόρημα. Η ιδέα πίσω απο το βιβλίο είναι ενδιαφέρουσα, η εκτέλεση της ιδέας όχι και τόσο ωραία. 4 άτομα απο διαφορετικές χώρες και με διαφορετικές καταβολές γνωρίζονται σε ένα μικρό Ελληνικό νησί και συνδέονται φιλικά μεταξύ τους και με κάποιους ντόπιους, Ο καθένας έχει κάποια προσωπικά θέματα να λύσει και ο καθένας απο αυτούς φαίνεται να βρίσκει την άκρη του όπως λέμε, όσο βρίσκεται στο νησί. Μία Ιρλανδή που κατοικεί στο νησί πάνω απο 30 χρόνια είναι μια ενδιαφέρουσα προσθήκη που παίζει βασικό ρόλο στην ιστορία...Το πρόβλημα με αυτό το βιβλίο είναι οτι σε σχέση με τα άλλα της συγγραφέως, οι χαρακτήρες δεν είναι και πολύ πειστικοί και η πλοκή είναι γεμάτη απο διάφορες λεπτομέρειες και περιστατικά που είναι πολύ δύσκολο να γίνουν πιστευτά. Πολλές συμπτώσεις, λίγοι αληθοφανεις διάλογοι, πολλά, μα πάρα πολλά κλισέ, ακομά και η γνωστή ζεστασία που περιβάλει τους χαρακτήρες της Binchy δεν είναι τόσο εμφανής εδώ. Η εικόνα που προσπαθεί να σχηματίσει για το νησί και τους κατοίκους του είναι επίσης πολύ μπερδεμένη, είναι σαν να βάζει τους χαρακτήρες σε ένα απομονωμένο φτωχό νησί του '50 την μια στιγμή και σε ένα τουριστικό σύγχρονο θέρετρο την άλλη. Υπάρχουν πολλά στοιχεία που δεν δένουν καθόλου, χαρακτήρες που λαβαίνουν e-mails αλλα αποφασίζουν να απαντήσουν με fax ή με γράμματα, χαροκαμμένες χήρες που σχεδόν δεν μιλάνε αγγλικά την μία στιγμή και μιλάνε σπασμένα αγγλικά την άλλη, άνθρωποι που δεν έχουν μιλήσει με τα παιδιά τους 9 χρόνια και ξαφνικά αποφασίζουν να επικοινωνήσουν μαζί τους στέλνοντας γράμματα αντι να τηλεφωνήσουν....Γενικά πολύ κατώτερο απο ότι θα περίμενε κανείς απ΄την συγκεκριμένη συγγραφέα. Είναι ένα κακό βιβλίο; Δεν θα το έλεγα. Το διάβασα για 3η ή 4η φορά μέσα σε 10 χρόνια μέσα σε ένα μόνο απόγευμα. Δεν ξέρω πως είναι η Ελληνική έκδοση διότι έχω το βιβλίο μόνο στα Αγγλικά, όμως γενικά η γραφή του βιβλίου είναι ξεκούραστη. Δεν είναι υψηλή λογοτεχνία, ωστόσο ούτε είναι κάποιο φτωχό ρομάτζο, το στυλ της συγγραφέα είναι ιδιαίτερο και πολύ ανθρώπινο και τα θέματα της επίσης. Το συνιστώ σαν ένα άνετο ελαφρύ ανάγνωσμα και όχι κάτι παραπάνω.ΥΓ: Δεν ξέρω αν κυκλοφορουν στα ελληνικά, ωστόσο ανάμεσα σε πολλά βιβλία της Maeve Binchy αναζητήστε τα: "Light a Penny Candle" , "Circle of Friends", "This Year It Will Be Different" και "Tara Road" .Καλή Ανάγνωση!
Set in Greece in Aghia Anna, a seaside village, four travelers from different countries and varying problematic histories, search for escape and new beginnings. Their lives become woven with the local residents after a touring boat explodes, killing both locals and tourists. This is from the blurb."Here is the story of old Andreas, the gentle taverna owner who has spent many years regretting the argument that drove his only son to America; Elsa, the beautiful German reporter who gave up her television career and the man she loves once she learned the secret he hid from her; and Fiona, the Irish nurse and dutiful daughter, who's gone off to travel with the man everyone says is wrong for her, determined to show them all--even if everyone is right. This is also the story of David, an Englishman, the only son who loves his family but not the family business; Thomas, the Californian who is able to cope with his recent divorce but not with sharing his son with his wife's new husband; and Vonni, who rashly left behind her life in Ireland to follow her true love to this village thirty years ago--and who is wise for everyone but herself." Using the literary device of strangers coming together and then sharing their life stories (think Canterbury Tales, Exotic Marigold Hotel, Enchanted April), these people become friends and encouragers to one another very quickly--in fact, in less than a month their lives become very entwined and changed as they begin to understand themselves and see their life situations through new eyes.A dominant theme is the complexity of the parent-child relationship and how we so often misunderstand one another because of our limited experience and narrow vision. As I read, I thought about the tensions that often have existed between my kids and me. Long ago I remember thinking, the conflicts are two sides of the same coin: as parents, we want to be loved, accepted, respected, wanted, included. As children, kids would say, they want to be loved, accepted, respected, wanted, included. If only we could each see that and pour out grace to one another, what a difference it would make in the relationships. Even though Binchy uses a familiar device to bring her characters together, she creates six very distinct individuals with unique voices and personalities. The setting is a perfect backdrop for the unfolding stories--a place for leisure, solitude, quiet walks, lingering at life. Irony is a significant aspect of the plot as well, as the reader sees through the blindspots of each character--and often I wanted to speak into the situation and say, "Can't you see? His situation is no different than your own." In fact, the characters do that for one another on occasion until each one comes to his/her own point of self-discovery. I found myself wondering about my own need for epiphany!Once I got started with this book, I didn't want to stop! Though I've known about Binchy for many years, this is my very first read. It won't be my last.
What do You think about Nights Of Rain And Stars (2015)?
I've always been a big Maeve Binchy fan and some of her books rank among my all-time favorites. But, several years ago Binchy talked about retiring...and she should have. The novel released right before this one, Quentins, was bad...I thought, as bad as it could get. But, I was wrong because this book is even worse! *sigh* I am very disappointed that the writing style of an all-time favorite has changed so drastically. I definitely will not run out immediately to buy her books as soon as they are released...
—Kendra
I've given this 3 stars because it almost did what I wanted it to do. I've read and enjoyed Maeve Binchy's books in the past and I bought this from the charity shop as a bit of comfort reading for the half term. This morning I nearly missed an appointment because I got into a good bit...However, I agree with some of the negative comments I've read: most of the characters were not that well developed and the two male tourists in particular were rather insipid. There's a romance which left me completely cold. I also found some details irritating - none of the four central characters has a mobile phone, which is ridiculous, but the plot depends on it in places. There is a weak attempt to explain it away at one point. Then there is a character who receives emails from a friend and replies by writing out a letter and travelling to the local police station to fax it! I would say this is the literary equivalent of Take A Break, so great if that's what you're after. On balance, the page-turning element outweighs the irritation and weak characterisation.
—Victoria Sponge
My Take:What an easy book to fall into, and what easy characters to fall in love with. I was pleasantly surprised by this book – I tried to read a Maeve Binchy (The Lilac Bus) when I was in high school, and just couldn’t get into it, and never tried another one since. The style of this book is lovely, the writing easy and dreamy (except for a few places where the writing was coarse and choppy, it seemed that she had to create a conflict for conflict’s sake and didn’t fit into the rest of the sto
—Sara
